I took my W reg Fabia 1.4 16v hatch to my usual dealer for a bog standard MOT yesterday.

It failed on a cracked anti-rollbar (which i did already know about) and 2 worn tyres, fair enough, but what concerns me is the following 'recommendations' the garage gave me -

1) The car is due a service - No it isn't. I pointed out that the same garage serviced it in Sept last year and didn't re-set the computer.

2) The timing belt needs changing - Er, Thats one of the reasons I had it early serviced in Sept - the belt was replaced then as it was bust. Same garage again.

3) The window motors need replacing as one sticks and the other is noisy - Sticking I can cope with. I had been told elsewhere that it was a clip inside that had broken. You can actually see the window isn't straight anymore, hence it puts too much pressure on the rubber as it goes back up, eventually not shutting unless you push it in the other direction. As for noisy??? Sounds the same to me. Been driving the car for 5 years and not noticed anything.

4) I need a new gearbox. Another noise issue apparantly - Now this is what concens me. They have quoted

I think it might help if you describe the noise come form the gearbox. How it sound? When changing gear? When Accelerating etc?

Passing MOT doesn't mean your car is healthy, it only says your car is safe for other road user and in drivable condition.

You can always try another Skoda dealer, at the end of the day.

Sound dodgy to me, never had a gear box go on me, not on Fords with 110K, vauxhalls with 70K or Skodas with 60k+ old favorit box went a bit stiff but drove ok. If you are in doubt get an AA check for £100 or so, then report the garage to trading standards, skoda UK if they are swinging the lead.

I think it might help if you describe the noise come form the gearbox. How it sound? When changing gear? When Accelerating etc?

It doesn't make any obvious sound at all!

That's just my point.

:(

Hi Thelioncub

I wonder if it is a main dealer?

But my gut instinct is they are ripping you off ! I would take it to another garage, not necessary a main dealer but what I call a back street garage, (if you find a good one ) they can be better and cheaper than main dealers sometime.

and get a second opinion, and if they are ok they won't even charge you.

as for doing 44,000 miles, I would think a gearbox would do a lot more, but if there is a problem or the gearbox oil has not been checked or changed then this could cause premature failure, but if it is working, I would take a chance and run it till it does die ! ( you might be supprised) it might last till you get a new car !

Steve

Is there another dealer you can take it all? They sound rubbish all-round.

If the gearbox is working fine and making no noises I can't see a problem!

I would suggest getting a second opinion from another garage, Gearboxes last a lot longer than 44000 unless its been badly abused or run without oil. Most cars end their life with the original gearbox, for some cars this is several hundred thousand miles.

If it still drives OK then I wouldnt change it until its giving you problems but you would certainly benefit from a second opinion.

If you post the town you live in someone on here might be able to recomend someone.

To add I had syncro going on a box on my previous Subaru, it was whiney & some changes were difficult, I was facing a bill for over 2000 & a little local garage recomended an additive, after 300 miles the noise disapeared & selection became easy again, it was still OK when I sold it & I gather OK for the next 2 owners.

Hi Thelioncub

I wonder if it is a main dealer?

Yes it is a main dealer. The one that supplied the car - to WhatCar? no less!! It is the exact car that won the car of the year for 2000, and I bought the car directly from Skoda (not a sales team), because I worked for WhatCar?, loved the car, and trusted the opinions of my colleagues.

I'm begining to have my doubts, which is a great shame.

I did a stint of work in a different main dealer, so I know all the dodgy cons that go on, which is what makes me so damn suspicious.

:(

Live in Teddington... if anyone can recommend a good alternative garage?

You can search Authorised Repairer in your area:

http://www.skoda.co.uk/skoda3g/content/showroom/retailerLocator.aspx

Worth getting a 2nd opinion, even if you just go to a local independent garage. AFAIK, if you had a gearbox problem, you'd know about it!

Chris

for the window get some teflon spray cleaner/lubricant' i have a can of dash bright or something that works a treat. sometimes the rubbers dry out and make it very difficult for the windows to run properly. spray this liberally into the window rubbers where the window runs with the window open all the way round to rejuvinate the window

my brothers was terrible and in fact with out physically pulling it up it wouldn't close at all :eek:

we tried everything else, we had the door apart, had the mechanism apart, greased everything up and ain the end it was the window seals that did it

for the gearbox issue i'd get a second opinion and don't tell them what skoda said just say you think there is something wrong with it would they mind having a look for you

i'd also suggest a different dealer.

Yes it is a main dealer. The one that supplied the car - to WhatCar? no less!! It is the exact car that won the car of the year for 2000' date=' and I bought the car directly from Skoda (not a sales team), because I worked for WhatCar?, loved the car, and trusted the opinions of my colleagues.

I'm begining to have my doubts, which is a great shame.

I did a stint of work in a different main dealer, so I know all the dodgy cons that go on, which is what makes me so damn suspicious.

:([/quote']

I'm suprised at the dodgy treatment by them.. Do you still work at What Car?

If so then this would be worth reporting on.. As I'm suspicious of dealers doing

this when a car is out of warranty,, as for some it seems to be when in warranty,

cannot find any faults, when out of warranty then ah yes we've found X and Y and this is what it will cost you!!!...

I'd follow the recommendation as others have suggested and try elsewhere..

cheers

Dazz

p.s. If you still work at What Car, I sent an email enquiry into the helpdesk but have recieved no reply, do I have to follow up my email?

If it turns out you are being conned please post the details of the dealer, just to save others !!

I have PMed you a contact number of a very good friend of mine who is an excellent mechanic. He lives round the corner from you.

Hope that helps

Yes it is a main dealer. The one that supplied the car - to WhatCar? no less!! It is the exact car that won the car of the year for 2000' date=' and I bought the car directly from Skoda (not a sales team), because I worked for WhatCar?, loved the car, and trusted the opinions of my colleagues.

I'm begining to have my doubts, which is a great shame.

I did a stint of work in a different main dealer, so I know all the dodgy cons that go on, which is what makes me so damn suspicious.

:([/quote']

Hope you get it all sorted out.

As an aside I think it was your car that inspired me to get my first Fabia back in July 2001. It was the pullout Whatcar? brochure, featuring the 1.4 16v that first got me on the orderlist. It was only when they had no 16v, that I opted for the TDI they had in.

Nice to catch up with that inspiration to me.

I think it was your car that inspired me to get my first Fabia back in July 2001. It was the pullout Whatcar? brochure, featuring the 1.4 16v that first got me on the orderlist. It was only when they had no 16v, that I opted for the TDI they had in.

ha ha.. nice to see my car had such an influence on you.

Don't get me wrong.. I think it is a great car, it is just a shame that good things can be so easily jaded by bad experiences at garages!

I borrowed the car from the editors to go on a business trip that my old car wouldn't make, and I literally said 'I have to keep this car'.. The rest is history, as they say.

If I had the choice again now, I'd probably either get the TDI or RS, as both drive beautifully.

A slight 'insiders' tip for anyone wanting to get a cheapy car - leave the 8v engines well alone. I'm told they are still made by the 'old' Skoda (pre-VAG), and IMHO, only seem to be doing well off the back of the other model reviews.

The window motors need replacing as one sticks and the other is noisy - Sticking I can cope with. I had been told elsewhere that it was a clip inside that had broken. You can actually see the window isn't straight anymore' date=' hence it puts too much pressure on the rubber as it goes back up, eventually not shutting unless you push it in the other direction. As for noisy??? Sounds the same to me. Been driving the car for 5 years and not noticed anything.[/quote']

The window motors of the Fabia are probably fine, it's like the dude said, your clips are gone. I have a 2003 Fabia too, and had both replaced...driver window was done as a precaution since the passenger window just suddenly fell into the door one day while driving.

I need a new gearbox. Another noise issue apparantly - Now this is what concens me. They have quoted

It sounds like the window regulator has failed or is failing on your car.

Gearbox noises are rare but not 'unheard of'. But if you dont see a problem then its simple, leave it alone.

As for the first two complaints if I got a car in that had its service light still on i'd assume that it would require a service aswell, and if it ws of the age/mileage to warrant a cambelt id advise it also. Without stripping it down there is no way to tell.

Dear thelioncub,

Please do let us know what happens. I've no confidence in my local agents and the next nearest is a long way away. Out of interest, my Fabia is now 47K and still running in. Last car was a Corsa 1.5D, not known for good gearboxes but sold at 250K with original gearbox and clutch working perfectly. Slightly different, but similar vein. Three month old Nikon camera had fault. Returned to service centre. Letter back please send large cheque for repairs. Phoned and pointed out it was under guarantee. Camera returned (still faulty) with a letter to say they could find nothing wrong with it. Hmm.

It sounds like the window regulator has failed or is failing on your car.

I'm not sure I'd agree with that. Like I said, the window goes down (and halfway up) just as smoothly/fast as it always did, with the same noises as ever.

The only reason it can't make it fully up is because it is leaning outwards so it gets to a stage where its being pushed against the rubber too much to move.

(Imagine a piece of board leaning up against a wall - you would have to straighten it to slide it up wouldnt you - hope this makes sense!)

If I stand on the outside of the car and push it gently in the other direction (with my arm in the window to operate the button) Then I can close it.

I just can't see that this is a regulator problem??

I'm not sure I'd agree with that. Like I said' date=' the window goes down (and halfway up) just as smoothly/fast as it always did, with the same noises as ever.

The only reason it can't make it fully up is because it is leaning outwards so it gets to a stage where its being pushed against the rubber too much to move.

(Imagine a piece of board leaning up against a wall - you would have to straighten it to slide it up wouldnt you - hope this makes sense!)

If I stand on the outside of the car and push it gently in the other direction (with my arm in the window to operate the button) Then I can close it.

I just can't see that this is a regulator problem??[/quote']

The regulator holds the window, so because the window doesn't sound to be held in the right position it suggests a replacement regulator is required.

For those of you who are interested.. I got my dad to take a look at it while he was in the country last week - he is a model maker by trade but also builds cars from scratch and is a car enthusiast (so I trust his opinion).

He was suprised to hear that during an MOT the garage had suggested a failing gearbox, as he points out that the car is not in gear at any point during an MOT! Interesting point.

We drove around and did some tests and he is absolutely sure that the problem is the clutch release bearing. He assures me that the noise is where the bearing is rattling about and you can hear that the noise stops when you put the clutch down (as the bearing has something to push against thus stopping it from rattling).

Apparantly this is not going to damage the car other than maybe get noisier, and at worst I will possibly need to get a new clutch in the future - but certainly not a new gearbox like I was told!

Quite sad as I did want to have faith in the Skoda garage, but it seems that they cannot be trusted at all.

Live in Teddington... if anyone can recommend a good alternative garage?

For MOT's there is a great place by Heathrow Airport. Called Berkeley's (or very similar) and only does MOT's - no repairs and very fair with nothing to gain from making up faults. I've used it for 15 years, and still do when I'm around there on business or visiting, even though I now live in Manchester.

It's on the A4 Bath Road in Cranford, go towards Heathrow/Slough from the Jolly Waggoner (Jolly Farmer??) roundabout junction of the Parkway and Bath Road and it's almost immediately on your left. Saves a lot of bother from the stealers.

We drove around and did some tests and he is absolutely sure that the problem is the clutch release bearing. He assures me that the noise is where the bearing is rattling about and you can hear that the noise stops when you put the clutch down (as the bearing has something to push against thus stopping it from rattling).

Apparantly this is not going to damage the car other than maybe get noisier' date=' and at worst I will possibly need to get a new clutch in the future - but certainly not a new gearbox like I was told!

Quite sad as I did want to have faith in the Skoda garage, but it seems that they cannot be trusted at all.[/quote']

The clutch release bearing went / started to go on my previous car - 1.4 T plate polo. I drove it for 6-10 months with no problem other that an irritating noise.

Putting the clutch down solved the problem on my car so you are prob right.

My solution was to part chop for a fabia rather than replace.